Mr. Kenny Jacobs:

I thank Deputy O'Rourke. I will make an opening comment and then ask Mr. McLean to make a few points.

It is important to note that planning does not govern flight paths, so flight paths were not part of the planning process. The flight paths for the north runway were consulted on in 2016, not 2007. The operations of the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority, ANCA, which is the regulator for noise, will cover both runways in any year and in every regard. ANCA is responsible and we work closely with it with regard to what the noise contours are and where there is noise.

On the communities, Mr. McLean and I have met the Ashbourne pilots group and we think there are a few interesting proposals there. We will take those away and look at them in the appropriate way because we have to look at what is practical and what can be implemented. We have to bear in mind the Weston and Baldonnel air facilities, and even the movement of An Garda Síochána helicopters in the airspace around the airport.

I am confident that if there is a better flight path that can work, we will find and implement it. That will take some time because we are in a very busy summer period and it is a busy airspace. It is not just about moving noise from above community A to above community B. The challenge we want to take on is to remove noise from the system. That is our objective. Different pilots will have different views. An Aer Lingus pilot might say that doing this or that on a missed approach would remove noise, while a Ryanair pilot might say something different. We have to do this in conjunction with the AirNav Ireland and the IAA. We have met ]the pilot group from Ashbourne and we want to take ideas on board and make adjustments if we can.